Hello Clara!

After more than three successful years in the innovation team of the ENO Structural Change Task Force, you have decided to take a new career step and will take a new position at the TU Dresden as “Lead Coordinator of the Lausitz Campus” in Görlitz. . Congratulations on your new leadership position - and although we will miss you, we are pleased that you are joining us as a “connection member”/partner? just around the corner from ENO HQ.

Great joy in the Görlitz Nature Conservation Zoo: “Tibet Bear Enclosure” funding project starts

The Nature Conservation Zoo Görlitz eV is celebrating an important milestone: Yesterday, the Prime Minister of Saxony, Michael Kretschmer, officially handed over the grant notice for the construction of the new Tibetan bear enclosure. This important funding measure is part of the comprehensive project to expand and modernize the zoo's infrastructure.

90% subsidy through the investment law for coal regions

Thanks to the structural change funding “Coal Regions Investment Act”, this project is supported with a 90% subsidy of the eligible costs amounting to 2.6 million euros. The federal government and the Free State of Saxony therefore bear the majority of the financing, which provides the zoo with considerable financial relief.

A long-awaited moment for the team

Carsten Liebig, the chairman of the board and project manager, was relieved about this progress: “This means that an important stage of the internal preliminary planning, applications, approvals and releases has been completed. Now everyone involved can work intensively on the immediate realization of the project. Our goal is to start construction in late summer.”

A new home for Mischa and Franz

The future residents of the facility, the Tibetan bears Mischa and Franz, are currently spending their vacation at the Augsburg Zoo in Bavaria. In Görlitz you can expect a species-appropriate facility that meets the most modern animal husbandry criteria. Here Mischa and Franz will find numerous employment and climbing opportunities as well as retreat areas. Carsten Liebig explains: “We are creating a place in our zoo that inspires and sensitizes visitors to the animals and to the topics of nature and species protection.”

A special highlight: socializing with rhesus monkeys

A unique feature of the new facility is the planned socialization of Tibetan bears with rhesus monkeys. The monkeys can not only stay in the bear enclosure, but can also explore other buildings in the Tibet village via special network tunnels.

Public relations and support

Extensive public relations work for the new major project has been underway in the zoo for several weeks. “We want to get our visitors excited about the project right from the start and hope to generate our own funds through their support,” says Carsten Liebig.

Support the project that is close to your heart

If you would also like to support the zoo's heart project, you can find all the information on the zoo's website.

The construction of the Tibetan bear enclosure marks a significant step in the further development of the Görlitz Nature Conservation Zoo. The team and the future residents Mischa and Franz are looking forward to the upcoming changes with great anticipation.

A high-level Lusatian delegation with district administrators and mayors is traveling to Brussels again to promote the Net Zero Valley.

Net-Zero Valley in focusBrussels - A high-level delegation from the LAUSITZRUNDE municipal alliance will travel to the European capital Brussels tomorrow for a one-day visit. The aim of the trip is to further promote Lausitz's application as a future Net Zero Valley. The delegation is led by district administrators Udo Witschas (Bautzen district), Dr. Stephan Meyer (Görlitz district) and Harald Altekrüger (Spree-Neiße district), the mayor of the city of Cottbus, Tobias Schick, as well as business representatives. “During his visit, Commissioner Breton pledged support for our application to be the first Net-Zero Valley. Now it’s important to stick with it and further expand the network that has been created here in cooperation with the regional economy,” emphasizes Fred Mahro, mayor of the city of Guben and deputy spokesman for the Lausitzrunde. “The delegation's renewed trip to Brussels documents the unity of Lusatia in Brandenburg and Saxony.” Christine Herntier, mayor of the city of Spremberg/Grodk, underlines the importance of the personal discussions in Brussels. “We want to take action and implement it. The schedule provides for a sensible division of tasks and we do not want to take any unnecessary detours. The proximity to the actors in Brussels and the close coordination with them is therefore very valuable for us." The Lusatian mayors hope that the visit will result in a successful and substantive exchange with the members of the European Parliament, Dr. Christian Ehler MEP, Matthias Ecke MEP and Anna Cavazzini MEP, as well as with the state representatives of the states of Saxony and Brandenburg. “The status of a model region is extremely important for Lausitz, which is undergoing transformation. We urgently need more investment, less bureaucracy and faster planning processes. These can no longer be empty phrases,” emphasizes Andreas Pfeiffer, mayor of the city of Senftenberg. The Lausitzrunde’s trip to Brussels is intended to bring Lausitz’s vision of becoming Germany’s first Net Zero Valley a lot closer.

Youth gallery “Before Sunrise” sets artistic accents in Lusatia

Under the illustrious name "Before Sunrise - because art sets accents", the curtain opens on a special exhibition that not only presents works by young artists, but also focuses on an important social issue: structural change in Lusatia. Organized by Löbauleben eV, this youth gallery has been inviting young people from Upper Lusatia to present their creative creations since 2022.

For the first time, the exhibits will find their place in the sacred halls of the Saxon state representation, where they can be admired until May 16, 2024.

The motto of this year's exhibition "This should still be around in 20 years" runs like a common thread through the works of the young talents. At the ceremonial opening on April 18, 2024 in Berlin, the focus was not only on art, but also on a lively discussion about the future of Lusatia. Under the moderation of Max Hilse, board member of Löbauleben eV, well-known personalities such as State Secretary Barbara Meyer and Prof. Dr. Alexander Kratzsch, Rector of the Zittau/Görlitz University, as well as committed young people such as Lisa Richter and Alexander Hilse, to debate the question in a panel discussion: "Lausitz before sunrise - What does it take for young people to want to live here?"

The discussion highlighted the region's potential in various areas and highlighted positive examples in the context of structural change. State Secretary Barbara Meyer underlined the economic and scientific strength of Lusatia, while Prof. Dr. Kratzsch supported this with reference to the university strategy that had been created. Nevertheless, it became clear that courage and hope are still needed to increase the attractiveness of Lusatia. Lisa Richter and Alexander Hilse made an urgent appeal for the need for the participation of young people and emphasized the importance of close cooperation in order to shape the “Sunrise of Upper Lusatia”.

The exhibition “Before Sunrise – because art sets accents” opens its doors daily from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., including on weekends, in the Saxon state representation. It's worth a visit not only to admire the diverse artistic works, but also to take a look at the future of Lusatia and think about how young people can help shape it.